GREENWAY

GREENWAY JOINT RECREATION ASSOCIATION (GJRA)
Office at Hodgins-Berardo Rec Center (218) 245-3525
Open Monday - Friday 8 am - 4:30 pm
200 Curley Ave. Coleraine, Minnesota (P.O. Box 519) 55722
email: gjra@scicable.com

200 Curley Avenue Coler

Open M

 

Next Board Meeting

March 20th at 7 pm

 

We are Greenway Joint Recreation Association:
eleven government entities within the Greenway School District (ISD 316) working together to provide quality youth sports and sports facilities. GJRA has levying authority to fund both goals. 

 

The government entities are Bovey, Calumet, Coleraine, Grand Rapids, Greenway, LaPrairie, Lawrence, Marble, Nashwauk (twp), Taconite, and Trout Lake. 

 

The association board meets every third Monday, 7 pm, at Hodgins-Berardo Rec Center.
 
We are the “Home of the Raiders” and rent the arena to ISD #316 for high school sports programs.
 
We offer youth sports: summer ball programs, basketball, football, hockey, and ice figure skating.
 
We advise and support organizations committed to youth sports, such as ~
Emerald Ice Figure Skating Club
Grand Rapids-Greenway FIRST Robotics
Greenway Amateur Hockey Association
Greenway Fastpitch Boosters
Itasca Ski and Outing Club
Itasca Synchronized Swimming Club
 
We own and manage Greenway Sports Complex in Bovey; it includes the CW3 Phil Windorski Field, and the Jen Guyer Field.
 
We own and manage Hodgins-Berardo Rec Center. 
We provide a fitness center at the Rec Center for public usage by those ages 14 and up.
 
We employ a full-time director and an assistant, and have an office at the Hodgins-Berardo Rec Center open weekdays from 8 am to 4:30 pm.
 
We prioritize what is best for the kids.

 

 

 

 

GJRA Board Members

2022-2023 Officers

 

President:  Carissa McIlwain Nelson 

Vice President:  Don Hanson ~ Taconite

Secretary:  Barb Gibeau ~ LaPrairie

Contact the secretary:

326-5427

dgibeau@paulbunyan.net

Treasurer: Dwight Kessler ~ Trout Lake Twp.

Other Board Members

 

Bob Lawson ~ Bovey

Dan Strand ~ Calumet

George Delich ~ Coleraine

Tasha Connelly ~ Grand Rapids

Todd Akkanen ~ Greenway Twp.

Casey Venema ~ Lawrence Twp.

Dan Andrews ~ Marble

Brian Ekholm ~ Nashwauk Twp.

 

 

Staff

 

Director ~ Pat Guyer

Assistant ~ Rock Troumbly

 

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GJRA Business

FEBRUARY 2023

 

  • Summer Ice: The upgraded compressor & cooling towers have been shipped and will be installed in time for expanded ice time this upcoming summer (June 12 - July 30).  The rental rate for summer ice will be $183 per hour; details in process.

  • Arena Roof: A grant application from AEOA has been submitted.  GAHA has earmarked monies to contribute to the roof and compressor/cooling towers upgrades.

  • Defibrillator: The existing device cannot be updated and needs replacing; a grant to the Baich Foundation has been submitted (approximate cost is $2300).

  • Programs:

    • Volunteers were great as they hosted the Peewee B district tournament February 17-19.  The following weekend, the Mini-Mites tournament also ran smoothly and was a success.

    • The Ice figure skaters are on track for the annual show, March 18-19.

 

     

    JANUARY 2023

     

    • Recreation Center: The name of the arena will be changed to Hodgins-Berardo Recreation Center and the building's outside signage above the doors will be updated, this spring, to Hodgins-Berardo Rec Center.
    • Compressor & Cooling Towers: An ice system update will move forward this spring, albeit grant funding is still in process.

    • Sound System: The sound system was professionally recalibrated to improve a difference in sound when the building's seating capacity is full, i.e. sounded excellent during practice time, but not during showtime.

    • Bottle Filling Station: The water fountain for the players was replaced with a model suited for filling water bottles; it was installed in-house by Rock.

    • Internet Access: The internet password has been changed, and connections will be limited to administration. The change will secure the concession stand's financial transactions. There will be no public access.

    • Code of Ethics: Not just for players and parents, but now in process, a code of ethics for the GJRA board members.  President Carissa initiated the process which will clarify expectations of officers and board members'.

     

       

      DECEMBER 2022

       

      Programs 

      • Hockey, figure skating, and basketball practices, and competitions, are running smoothly.
      • Approved letting boys from Nashwauk in grades 3 - 6 play with Greenway teams to fill them for the tournaments in February.
      • Girls and boys basketball in grades 1 - 2 begins January 9.

       

      Arena

      • Switched to weekly trash pick-up at the arena from Waste Management.
      • The arena's sound system is not performing as good as anticipated; needs warranty service. 
      • In process: Plugging away to find matching funds to replace the arena's  flat roof portion, and to upgrade the compressor & cooling tower; discussed with Representative Spencer Igo.

       

         

        The video above [Peewee B vs Duluth East Black on Dec. 2. 2022] is an example of live recordings of hockey games posted on facebook for Greenway Amateur Hockey Association: https://www.facebook.com/GAHAhockey

         

        NOVEMBER 2022

         

        Business 

        • Heard positive report from Amanda Dick of Glorvigen | Tierney | & Co who had reviewed finances from the past couple years; she praised a strong comeback after COVID 19.
        • Plugging away to find matching funds to replace the arena's  flat roof portion, and to upgrade the compressor & cooling tower. Specific information from Commercial Refrigeration (out of Virginia), and another quote for the roof, is being sought for the grantwriting.
        • Renewed the health insurance for the two full-time employees albeit a 5% increase.
        • Updated the AED (automated external defibrillator) to be sure the pediatric pads were sufficient.
        • Purchased replacement batteries for the Zamboni from the GJRA zamboni savings fund.

         

        Programs 

        Hockey, figure skating, and basketball practices, and competitions, are running smoothly.

         

        OCTOBER 2022

         

        Programs 

        • Flag football play offs resulted in the STEELERS winning. Andy Sertich [kudos] helped make the program successful while Pat Guyer had a shoulder replacement.

        • Figure Skating participation is up with 84 skaters; 30 in the junior/senior level.

        • Hockey numbers are approximately the same as previous years: 2 teams each of Bantams, Peewees, Squirts, and 3 teams each of Mites and Mini-Mites. Games start the first weekend in November.

        • Basketball season for boys and girls in grades 3 to 6 is October 29 - December 23, followed by tournaments. Basketball season for boys and girls in grades 1 to 2 is during the months of January and February. Nick Porter is the contact and the basketball webpage was updated to reflect changes.

         

        Business 

        • Still in process: work to find matching funds to replace the arena's  flat roof portion, and to upgrade the compressor & cooling tower, continues; hopefully success will come from IRRRB.  The parking lot and greenspace improvements have been postponed.
        • Amanda Dick of Glorvigen | Tierney | & Co is conducting, as required, a financial review of the years 2021 and 2022.

         

         

        SEPTEMBER 2022

        Arena:

        • Ice goes in the week of October 10; skating begins October 17.

        • A new water fountain that accomodates water bottles was purchased.

         

        Programs 

        • Flag football  has 38 players in grades 4 - 6; play offs will be Monday (10/10) and Tuesday (10/11) at 5 pm, at Nixon-Barle Field.

        • Figure Skating sign up was successful with 54 skaters so far.  The club webpage has been updated with the current officers and contacts.

        • Basketball sign ups for both girls and boys will be October 12 from 5-7 pm

         

        Business 

        • Work to find matching funds to replace the arena's  flat roof portion, and to upgrade the compressor & cooling tower, continues; hopefully success will come from IRRRB.  The parking lot and greenspace improvements have been postponed.

         

         

        AUGUST 2022 - START OF A NEW YEAR

         

        Sports Complex ~ Wrap Up

        • All the advertising signs, dust & wind breakers, and batting cages have been stored for the season.

         

        Programs ~ Sign Up

        • Flag football sign up is in process; practices begin on September 12.

        • Figure Skating sign up is Monday September 19, from 4:40 - 6:30 pm.

        • Hockey sign up is online via GAHA

         

        Business ~ A New Fiscal Year

        • New officers were elected for the new fiscal year.  Carissa Nelson is the president, and Don Hanson, the vice-president.
        • The budget was adopted; a $3500 increase to $482,800.
        • The levy will be certified for the 2023 tax year at $350,000.
        • Consultation with Community Economic Development Association (CEDA) is in process for help finding funds for the projects previously reported.

         

         

        JUNE & JULY 2022

        Programs

        • Fastpitch 14U team are Champions! (photo above)

        • Little Titans (so named as Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin schools have combined their programs) held their tournament and the Lightning team won over the Orioles.

        • Summer Hockey Camp and Summer Ice Skating Camp (held the last three weeks in June) were successful. 

        Arena

        • Spent $3600 to replace the zamboni's battery charger; it had stopped working during Summer Hockey Camp.
        • Need an upgraded compressor & cooling tower: a storm knocked out the electricity and the current system was under-powered to maintain the summer ice.
        • Re-painted all the white bleachers; the green bleachers will be done next month.

        Business

        • Hired for Concessions: Jody Hron (new) to be co-worker with Molly Stolp.
        • Approved a request by the Civil Air Patrol to use the grounds on September 16-18 for a regional rescue training camp.
        • Applying (in process) for matching funds from both IRRRB and Blandin Foundation to fund the parking lot project, replacement of the arena's  flat roof portion, and an upgrade to the compressor & cooling tower. 
        • Renewed the contract with ISD  #316 at the same fee.
        • Designated a budget committee in preparation for the new fiscal year; election of officers is in August.

         

         

         

        Taxing Authority

        

        2022 Levy = $346,500

        2023 Levy = $350,000

         

        2021 - 2022 budget = $481,500

        2022 - 2023 budget = $482,800

         

         

        See Area Boundaries HERE

         

        GJRA Documents

        Who is Pat Guyer?

         

        Read Pat's interview by the Grand Rapids Herald~Review when he was inducted into the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

        CLICK HERE

         

        Pat lives in Trout Lake Township and has worked for Greenway Joint Recreation Association since 1990.